diff --git a/src/calls-message-source.c b/src/calls-message-source.c
index 05f5efc..875dfd0 100644
--- a/src/calls-message-source.c
+++ b/src/calls-message-source.c
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ calls_message_source_default_init (CallsMessageSourceInterface *iface)
    *
    * This signal is emitted when an implementing-object needs to emit
    * a message to the user.  The message should be suitable for
-   * presentation to the user as-is.
+   * presentation to the user as-is. This means it should be translated
+   * to the users locale.
    */
   signals[SIGNAL_MESSAGE] =
     g_signal_newv ("message",
@@ -66,3 +67,23 @@ calls_message_source_default_init (CallsMessageSourceInterface *iface)
 		   G_TYPE_NONE,
 		   2, arg_types);
 }
+
+/**
+ * calls_message_source_emit_message:
+ * @self: A #CallsMessageSource
+ * @message: The message to emit
+ * @message_type: The type of the message: Error, warning, etc
+ *
+ * Emits a message which should be shown to the user in the user interface.
+ * Messages should be translated into the users locale
+ */
+void
+calls_message_source_emit_message (CallsMessageSource *self,
+                                   const char         *message,
+                                   GtkMessageType      message_type)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail (CALLS_IS_MESSAGE_SOURCE (self));
+  g_return_if_fail (message || *message);
+
+  g_signal_emit (self, signals[SIGNAL_MESSAGE], 0, message, message_type);
+}
diff --git a/src/calls-message-source.h b/src/calls-message-source.h
index 3b08608..50454bd 100644
--- a/src/calls-message-source.h
+++ b/src/calls-message-source.h
@@ -69,5 +69,8 @@ struct _CallsMessageSourceInterface
 #define CALLS_ERROR(obj,error)                                  \
   CALLS_EMIT_MESSAGE (obj, error->message, GTK_MESSAGE_ERROR)
 
+void                   calls_message_source_emit_message (CallsMessageSource *self,
+                                                          const char         *message,
+                                                          GtkMessageType      message_type);
 
 G_END_DECLS